Aeroplane



March 29 1927.

Filed April 22. 1926 1,622,844 A. D. RAY

AEROPLANE 3 Sheets-Sheet l gwuantoz 1,622,844 March 29, 1927. A. D. RAY

AEROPLANE Filed April 22. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elma Lima A. D. RAY

AEROPLANE March 29,1927. 1,622,844

Filed April 22. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet s gnmntoz Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PAT ALBERT D. BAY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed April 22, 1926. Serial No. 103,819.

the wings of a flying machine with disc-like.

members, which are adapted to be rotated while the machine is in motion. In the preferred form, I employ two such discs and mount one on each side of the propeller. The discs are each mounted to rotate upon a vertical axis and embody cone shaped members, the central horizontal planes of which are substantially in the same plane as the axis of the propeller. The discs are arranged to be rotated in opposite directions, wherefor the spent air or back pressure from the forward propeller is utilized to assist in rotating the discs. To assist further in operating the flying machine I make the rim of each disc adjustable in a vertical direction and provide means for selectively adjusting the position of the rim. For, example, while the machine is in forward flight the rims may be retained in horizontal position and while rising or gliding downwardly the rims may be either raised or lowered respectively.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flying machine embodying my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are side and front elevations respectively of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a. vertical section through one of the operating discs; Fig; 5 is a plan view showing a part of the 'so with the upper and lower covers removed and showing the diaphragm construction; Fig. 6 is a section taken on a plane indicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. 5. v

My invention is shown in connection with a flying machine having a fuselage 10 on which a propeller 11 is rotatably mounted and is suitably'connected to a motor indicated at 12. In place of the usual wings I employ preferably two disc-like members 15 each of which is mounted for rotation u on a vertical axis on one side of the prope ler axis. The discs arearranged to be rotated by'the motor- 12 and are adapted-to be actu- I ated at a relatively high rate of speed andto be selectively controlledi'so that one may rotate if desired at a faster rate of speed than the other disc. The combined area of the discs is substantially equal to that required for wings while the mechanism for rotating the discs is so arranged that they rotate in opposite directions. The disc-like rotatable members are preferably fabricated so as to make them strong yet light in weight. To this end each member has a diaphragm 20 which normally is disposed in a horizontal plane and is arranged to be moved vertically atthe center with reference to the machine frame, in order to warp or deflect the peripheral portion and thereby to assist in rising or landing. The diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 5, is fabricated from segmental shaped sections of radially ribbed light sheet metal 21 which are joined along the radial edges as by an interlocking connection 22. These sections are attached near the center to a flanged sleeve 23 and are further at-' tached near the outer edge to clamping rings 24 and 25 by securing members 26. The joint 22 allows slight relative motion be tween the sections whenever the center is raised or lowered with reference to the frame.

The diaphragm, as indicated in Fig. 4, is enclosed by an upper casing 27, and a lower casing 28, each of which is substantially conical in shape, and which may be made of fabric material, such as that usually employed for aeroplane wing construction. The outer peripheral portion of each cover is shown as being clamped to the diaphragm by the rings 24 and 25 while the central or inner portions are shown as being clamped to collars 29 and 30 respectively.

To rotate the discs. I have indicated a cross shaft 35 which is operatively geared to the motor and in turn is geared at each end to vertical shafts 36. These last mentioned shafts as shown in Fig. -l are hollow and have a rigid connection with the collars 29 and 30 and a splined connection with the sleeve 23. This. splined connection allows the central part of the diaphragm to be raised or lowered with reference to the shaft for warping the diaphragm, and there by tilting thatportion which projects beyond the rings 24 and 25.

To shift the sleeve 23, I have shown a rod 37 within the shaft 36. The upper end of the rod is rigidly connected as by securing members 38 to the sleeve through a Slot in the hollow shaft.

The lower end is connected through securing members 41 to a sleeve 42 through a slot 43 in the hollow shaft. A yoke 44 pivotally mounted at 45 to a link 46 illustrates a means for shifting the sleeve 42, and thereby for shifting the center of the diaphragm vertically with reference to the frame.

In the preferred form the rotatable wing members are so mounted that a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the propeller also passes through the mid-portion of the members. Moreover, the discs are arranged to be rotated in opposite directions, and adjacent portions are therefore arranged to travel in the same direction. The direction of rotation then is such that the adjacent portions rotate in the same direction as the current of air which is set into motion by the propeller. In this way the propeller assists in rotating the discs.

if desired, 1 may employ a clutch (not shown) for disengaging one shaft 36 from the motor independently of the other and thereby allowing one disc to rotate at a higherrate of speed than the other for assisting the machine while banking on a curve. Moreover if desired the warping of the discs may be accomplished independently or jointly to facilitate to a further degree the handling of the machine.

A flying machine embodying my invention is exceptionally advantageous in that the whirling discs have a gyroscopic effect which functions to maintain the machine in equilibrium while flying in a horizontal direction. An additional advantage is the factthat the peripheral portion may be raised or lowered with reference to the central portion. This enables the machine to hover at a greatly reduced speed, and facilitates rising and landing by enabling such operations to be accomplished at a reduced rate of speed.

Having-thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An aeroplane wing embodying a rotatable hollow member having a diaphragm adjacent the central portion thereof the diaphragm projecting beyond the marginal edges of the hollow portion and being mov able with reference thereto.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination with a propeller, of a pair of disc-lil e rotatable members, each having the axis thereof extending substantially at a right angle to the axis of the propeller, and being so positioned that a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the propeller also passes through the mid-portion of each member, means for rotating said members in opposite directions, and means for warping each of said mem bers adjacent the marginal edges thereof.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

ALBERT D. RAY. 

